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Opportunity knocks for Danish-American documentary in the running for an Oscar
Christian Wenande
November 22nd, 2016
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Danish connection in ‘Amanda Knox’ difficult to ignore
Monster or victim? (photo: ‘Amanda Knox’)
Most Danish film connoisseurs are probably well aware that the Danish film ‘Land of Mine’ is among the films being considered for this year’s Best Foreign Film Oscar nomination.
But actually, there is another film with a Danish link in the Oscar running.
Produced by Danish production firm Plus Pictures in co-operation with Netflix, the Danish-American documentary ‘Amanda Knox’ is among the docs in contention for the Best Documentary Feature award.
‘Amanda Knox’ tells the dramatic story about how the American exchange student Amanda Knox was convicted and later acquitted for the gruesome 2007 murder of a British exchange student in Italy.
READ MORE: War film submitted as Denmark’s Oscar entry
Hooray for Heide
Plus Pictures producer Mette Heide, the wife of British actor Ian Burns, was also the executive producer on the Oscar-winning ‘Taxi to the Dark Side’ in 2007, and her confirmation at the helm of ‘Amanda Knox’ was pleasing to its co-directors Brian McGinn and Robert Blackhurst.
“Beyond Brian’s positive experience of working with Mette, we wanted to team up with a European producer because of the global nature of the story,” said Blackhurst.
“The Danes, through the support of the Danish Film Institute, encourage and foster a creative environment that supports filmmakers as they begin to pursue new work. That, combined with Mette’s experience making films about sensitive stories, made her the perfect producer for the project.”
The members of the Oscar Academy will choose a shortlist of 15 films in December, before announcing the final five on January 24. The final winner will then be revealed during the 89th Oscar Awards on February 26.
‘Amanda Knox’ premiered on Netflix on September 30.
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